UC-NRLF 


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fhe  Promise  of  Li 


s 


^SUTHERLAND 


GIFT   ©F 


The  Promise  of  Life 


The    Promise   of    Life 


By 
Howard    Sutherland 

Author  of  "Idylls  of  Greece"  "The 
Woman  Who  Could,"  "The  Le- 
gend of  Love,"  "Idas  and 
Marpessa,"  "Out  of 
the  North." 


,    >  >      > 


i 


RAND   McNALLY  &   COMPANY 
CHICAGO 


Copyright,  19! 4,  b'j 
RANO.  McNALLY  &  COMPANY 


In  Memory 

of 

A   Friend 


The  Promise  of  Life 

""HESE  are  days  of  stress  and  of 
endeavor,  when  in  the  pursuit 
of  the  material,  one  is  apt  to  forget 
that  another  life  shall  follow  this 
as  surely  as  night  the  day,  gentler 
Spring  the  stern  and  uncompro- 
mising Winter. 

Let  there  be  no  question  in  our 
minds  as  to  this.  Let  us  not  per- 
mit the  metaphysician  to  cloud  the 
issue,  nor  the  scientist  to  clothe 
it  with  doubt.  Let  us  rather  see 
with  the  clearer  vision  of  the  poet, 

l 


THE.  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

#    t  •     ,      »  ' 

with  the  Shelleys,  the  Wordsworths, 
the  Brownings  of  the  world,  to 
whom  God  has  granted  the  Vision 
and  who  but  act  as  His  messengers 
in  the  revelation  of  divine  Truth. 

Not  that  the  Truth  needs  reve- 
lation, being  everywhere  in  evi- 
dence; but  interpreters  are  ever 
necessary,  for  unless  one's  attention 
is  called  to  such  apparent  splen- 
dors, the  majority  of  us  overlook  the 
magnificence  of  the  nightly  display 
of  stars. 

To  find  fault  with  the  modern 
tendency  to  strive  for  material  suc- 
cess is  futile.  To  desire  the  good 
things  of  life  is  only  natural,  and  we 
must  not  overlook  the  fact  that  by 
bettering  his  own  condition  the  indi- 
vidual very  often  improves  that  of 

2 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

those  around  him.  The  progress 
of  the  individual  means  the  progress 
of  the  race;  and  while  certain  of  us 
may  wish  that  the  benefits  to  the 
many  were  more  in  evidence,  and 
that  poverty  and  unhappiness,  in- 
justice, and  misunderstanding  were 
no  less  things  of  the  past  than  are 
the  rack  and  the  ordeal  by  fire,  nev- 
ertheless in  our  hearts  we  know  that 
the  world  is  warmed  as  never  before, 
by  a  sympathy  of  man  for  man. 

And  whereas  in  the  past  the 
Divine  Intelligence  saw  fit  to  pro- 
duce an  a  Kempis,  a  Saint  Francis, 
a  Loyola,  whose  unselfish  lives  flare 
like  torches  in  the  darkness  of  igno- 
rance and  superstition,  so  has  that 
same  Divine  Intelligence  created  in 
the  present  those  after-intelligences 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

by  whose  efforts  and  accomplish- 
ments we  of  To-day  and  those  of 
To-morrow  shall  benefit. 

In  their  way,  great  inventions  may 
be  forms  of  praise,  no  less  accepta- 
ble to  God  than  the  widow's  silent 
prayer  or  the  poet's  hymn  of  grati- 
tude. Having  eyes  that  see  not,  this 
may  not  be  clear  to  us-  -at  least, 
not  clear  to  us  now;  but  to  the 
mystic  and  the  symbolist  it  may  be 
otherwise : 

We  see  the  Garment,  not  the  God  within; 
The  deed,  but  not  its  inspiration. 

Therefore,  let  those  whose  voices 
are  raised  against  the  so-called  mate- 
rialism of  the  day  think  twice  before 
they  wrap  themselves  in  their  con- 
victions and  pronounce  as  hopeless 
our  spiritual  progress. 

4 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

Each  of  us  is,  or  can  become,  a 
creator  in  his  or  her  own  way,  and 
it  is  by  our  creative  acts  that  we 
prove  our  unity  with  the  Creator 
Himself.  It  is  given  to  all  people 
to  think  along  lines  other  than  those 
of  the  material;  perhaps  more  so 
think  than  we  imagine.  To  us,  the 
merchant  may  appear  to  spend  too 
much  time  over  his  ledgers,  the 
physician  over  the  latest  theories 
in  his  medical  journals,  and  hundreds 
of  thousands  to  gain  their  meager 
information  from  the  news  columns 
of  their  one  daily  paper.  But  who 
can  see  into  the  mind  of  another? 
And  who,  supposing  the  charges 
to  be  well  founded,  can  say  that 
such  conditions  shall  always  be?  Al- 
ready there  are  signs  of  gropings 

5 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

toward  Light,  of  the  reaching  up 
of  hands  for  other  than  material 
assistance,  of  the  public  expression 
of  thoughts  and  sentiments  which, 
heretofore,  have  been  withheld,  or 
only  whispered  through  fear  of  ridi- 
cule. 

Therefore,  although  the  statement 
that  these  are  days  of  'stress  and 
of  endeavor "  is  in  the  main  correct, 
we  need  have  no  fear  that  God  has 
so  entirely  forgotten  our  world  that 
in  human  hearts  there  is  no  yearning 
for  Him.  One  can  do  one's  work 
and  yet  be  an  agent  in  greater 
schemes  than  may  at  present  be 
apparent  to  him;  one  may  toil  in 
a  factory  or  sit  in  a  counting  house 
and  yet  be  an  Apostle  of  Joy,  a 
factor  for  good  in  the  plan  whose 

6 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

purpose  is  the  ultimate  perfection  of 

all. 

With  the  vision  that  is  granted  us 
we  have  assured  ourselves  of  the 
progress  of  the  world.  An  occa- 
sional setback,  the  flaming-up  of 
human  passions,  with  ensuing  war 
and  religious  persecution  here  and 
there-  -what  are  these  in  compar- 
ison with  the  growth  of  Equality,  a 
keener  sense  of  Justice,  a  broader 
sympathy  between  man  and  man, 
and  woman's  use  of  opportunities 
too  long  withheld  from  her?  Here- 
tofore despairing  humanity  has  had 
recourse  to  Revolution,  from  whose 
crimson  fires  the  white  flame  of 
Liberty  was  born,  and  from  whose 
hideous  wreckage  was  slowly  builded 
the  marble  palace  fit  for  the  children 

7 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

of  Freedom  and  of  Peace.  But 
Revolution  is  now  no  longer  neces- 
sary; its  place  is  taken  by  Quiet 
Change,  in  which,  not  despairing 
but  enlightened  and  hopeful  men 
have  faith-  -men  who  have  confi- 
dence that  in  changes  slowly  brought 
about  Life  still  continues,  under 
better  and  easier  conditions. 

Prophetic  of  this  eternal  growth, 
this  kaleidoscopic  replacement  of 
the  countless  particles  constituting 
the  picture  of  Existence,  and  of  the 
eternal  supremacy  and  control  over 
it  of  God,  are  Shelley's  lines: 

The  One  remains,  the  many  change  and  pass; 
Heaven's  light  forever  shines,  Earth's  shadows  fly. 
Life,  like  a  dome  of  many-colored  glass, 
Stains  the  white  radiance  of  Eternity. 

Were  we  not  inwardly  conscious, 
conscious  above  all  necessity  of 

8 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

absolute  proof,  of  this  continuance 
of  the  One,  then  there  might  be  grave 
doubt  as  to  our  own  survival  when 
the  swift  divorce  of  death  has  sun- 
dered our  mortal  from  its  immortal 
part.  But  we  know  that  funda- 
mentally we  are  good,  despite  our 
errors  and  our  weaknesses,  despite 
our  follies  and  our  boasts;  and  we 
know  that  God  is  good,  despite  the 
wrath  with  which  our  mistaken 
creeds  have  clothed  Him  and  the 
vengeance  we  have  supposed  He 
would  find  delight  in.  And  we 
know  that  as  the  magnet  draws  unto 
itself  its  affinities,  so  the  Divine 
Good  shall  draw  unto  itself  the 
Human  Good,  and  that  which  is 
truly  ourselves  shall  not  be  lost. 
To  this,  he  who  attends  us  in  our 

9 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

sickness  and  who  has  well  informed 
himself  as  to  our  body,  may  shake 
his  head,  saying:  'My  microscope 
gives  me  no  proof  thereof";  the 
metaphysician,  no  less  helpless  than 
the  Sufis  of  old,  may  abstrusely 
discuss  it  and  come  to  no  satisfac- 
tory conclusion.  But  we  know  that 
the  most  learned  doctors  disagree 
among  themselves  and  that  the  pro- 
foundest  speculations  of  the  met- 
aphysicians are  but  idle  words  to 
the  metaphysicians  of  other  schools. 
Therefore,  we  more  ordinary  mor- 
tals, unlearned  in  knowledge  which 
is  inexact  and  which  only  unsettles, 
and  glad  of  our  possession  of 

The  faith  of  childhood  and    its  love, 

may  remain  unshocked  by  their 
conclusions,  though  wishful  that  they 

10 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

could  participate  in  our  simpler 
and  happier  belief. 

Surrounding  the  atom  and  the 
farthest  star,  the  pulsing  cell  and 
the  flaring  nebula,  is  the  Mystery 
which  neither  microscope  nor  tele- 
scope can  adequately  explain;  be- 
hind the  flower's  illusive  fragrance 
is  something  more  illusive  yet,  that 
something  which  causes  us  to  stand 
silent  in  the  presence  of  breathless 
beauty  or  confronted  by  the  won- 
drous serenity  in  the  eyes  of  a  little 
child. 

This  is  nothing  less  than  the 
Mystery  of  Life,  the  primal  mystery 
and  the  ultimate.  In  the  unthink- 
ing it  raises  but  little  wonder;  in  the 
scientific  mind  it  awakens  curiosity, 
but  a  curiosity  which  mere  science 

11 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

cannot  satisfy;  and  from  the  meta- 
physician, as  hopelessly  confounded 
by  it  as  was  Napoleon  by  the  engima 
of  the  Sphinx,  it  draws  forth  such 
papers  as  are  delivered  before  Phil- 
osophical Societies,  but  which,  when 
read,  leave  their  hearers  hopelessly 
befogged. 

When  confronted  by  this  mystery, 
and  confronted  he  is  by  it  every  hour 
of  the  day,  the  thoughtful  man  knows 
better  than  to  seek  its  explanation. 
He  may  divine  its  intent,  which 
is  something  very  different;  but 
beyond  that  he  will  not  seek  to  go, 
informing  and  satisfying  himself 
by  intuition  rather  than  by  reason- 
ing processes.  And  it  is  by  reason 
of  his  inability  or  unwillingness  to 
avail  himself  of  these  intuitions  that 

12 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

we  have  gradually  come  to  consider 
our  more  materially-minded  neigh- 
bor among  the  stumbling-blocks  to 
spiritual  progress  to-day. 

We  know  well  how  the  scientific 
mind  is  apt  to  pooh-pooh  this  mys- 
tery, suggesting  that  in  due  time  it 
shall  be  explained  to  the  world;  if 
not  to  the  world's  satisfaction,  at 
least  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  scien- 
tific mind  itself.  But  the  pooh- 
poohing  of  men  at  such  inexplicable 
things  is  as  vain  as  the  lashing  of 
the  sea  against  great  rocks,  as  vain 
as  the  blowing  of  winds  upon  the 
stars. 

In  our  acceptance  of  mysteries  as 
mysteries,  in  our  leaning  to  the  poet's 
more  optimistic  utterance  regarding 
that  which  we  well  know  is  outside 

13 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

the  pale  of  absolute  proof,  we  do 
not  dim  the  luster  of  the  divine 
jewel  of  intelligence,  divinest  of 
gifts.  Nay,  by  our  acceptance  of 
him  as  teacher  we  but  act  as  do 
the  midges  attracted  from  the  dark- 
ness by  the  sunbeam.  For  the 
true  poet  is  the  child  of  the  ages. 
He  is  the  inheritor  of  all  memories, 
of  the  hopes  and  aspirations  and 
longings  of  mankind.  In  him,  self 
is  lost  in  the  race,  whose  representa- 
tive he  becomes;  and  above  all  else 
he  is  the  mouthpiece  of  Divinity. 
And  even  though  it  be  not  permitted 
him  to  explain  the  mystery  whereof 
we  are  speaking,  in  his  song  he  still 
reminds  men  thereof  and  encourages 
the  faint-hearted  even  when  de- 
scends about  them  the  forbidding 

14 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

mist  of  death.  With  the  experi- 
ences of  the  past  within  his  heart 
he  concerns  himself  only  with  the 
,  future,  knowing  that  in  that  future 
the  miasmas  of  to-day  shall  be 
absorbed,  and  that  in  the  brighter 
light  of  those  days  the  race  shall  still 
continue,  overcoming  such  obstacles 
as  the  future  is  bound  to  bring  with 
it,  onward,  upward,  even  as  it  is 
moving  onward  and  upward  to-day. 
Therefore,  although  the  present 
times  may  seem  to  us  unlovely;  al- 
though an  apparent  materialism  may 
discomfort  us  and  incline  us  to 
weaken  in  the  fight,  there  is  in 
reality  no  reason  for  such  faint- 
heartedness. It  is  no  longer  a  medi- 
tative age,  but  one  of  action,  of 
accomplishment,  of  the  dispelling 

15 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

of  fears  born  of  superstition,-  -an  age 
of  regeneration.  We  know  that  we 
are  still  far  distant  from  the  summit 
of  time;  but  the  air  we  breathe  is 
rarer,  diviner;  and  while  it  is  making 
us  more  conscious  of  the  divine 
within  us  it  is  also  making  us  more 
human,  more  conscious  of  the  fact 
that  each  of  us  is  but  a  link  in  the 
endless  chain  between  Then  and 
that  other  Then  when  again  we 
shall  be  ourselves  and  when,  in  the 
performance  of  higher  duties,  it  may 
no  longer  be  necessary  for  us  to 
remember  that  we  were  ever  here. 

(~\F  the  continuity    of    life    after 

death  much  has  been  written, 

and,  in  the  course  of  the  ages,  much 

is   yet    to    be    written.      For   what 

16 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

purpose  it  is  difficult  to  say,  except, 
perhaps,  because  there  must  ever 
be  many  to  whom  the  latest  word 
is  the  newest  truth.  Certain  of  us 
maintain  that  the  consciousness  of 
eternal  life  as  natural  law  must  be 
inborn,  and  that  some  are  surer  of 
it  than  are  others.  Consciousness 
of  annihilation  is  beyond  the  demon- 
stration of  the  subtlest  mind;  yet 
when  at  the  last  the  few  remaining 
survivors  of  the  race  (allowing  the 
possibility  of  such  an  event)  await 
the  final  disintegration  of  the  world, 
it  is  certain  that,  even  as  to-day  and 
even  as  yesterday,  there  will  be  those 
who  doubt  and  those  whose  reliance 
will  be  placed  in  the  flaming  words 
of  Christ:  'I  am  the  Resurrection, 
and  the  Life.  He  that  believeth  in 

17 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

Me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall 
he  live;  and  whosoever  liveth  and 
believe th  in  Me  shall  never  die." 

In  other  words,  the  faith  in  man 
shall  convince  him  of  eternal  verities. 

The  fact  that  we  were  alive  yester- 
day and  that  we  enjoy  to-day  should 
convince  us  of  what  we  call  Immor- 
tality. Time  and  Space  existed  long 
before  man  appeared  upon  the  scene. 
They  were  not  created  for  him,  but, 
rather,  he  for  them.  The  endlessness 
of  the  one  and  the  boundlessness 
of  the  other  are  for  the  development 
of  the  spirit,  which  is  deathless.  Let 
us  but  assure  ourselves  of  identity 
with  that  which  was  formerly  con- 
sidered separate  from  us;  let  us  feel 
that  we  are  bound  by  ties,  however 
slight,  with  the  Divine,  and  we  shall 

18 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

soon  see  how  impossible  it  is  for 
there  to  be  an  end  to  life,  or  even 
a  severing  of  our  connection  with  it. 
How  can  there  be  an  end  to  life? 
It  is  the  divine  mood  made  manifest. 
The  tree  is  of  no  less  consequence 
than  the  man;  the  tiny  insect, 
busied  about  its  own  occupations,  is 
of  no  less  importance  in  the  consider- 
ation of  the  Eternal  than  is  the 
inventor,  the  organizer  of  social 
systems,  or  the  poet.  Place  your- 
self at  the  altitude  of  the  star  and 
compare  your  three  score  years  and 
ten  with  the  hoar  antiquity  of  the 
rocks.  Thus,  far  removed  in  thought 
from  the  earth  and  man's  way  of 
estimating  things,  you  shall  com- 
prehend, although  but  faintly,  how 
all  that  is,  how  all  that  ever  was, 

19 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

is  but  a  temporary  expression  of 
something  to  be  finally  re-expressed. 
Eternally  changing,  and  of  infinite 
variety,  Life  is  the  other  name  for 
God.  And  death  is  neither  the 
cessation  nor  is  it  the  beginning  of 
things.  It  is  merely  a  natural  phase 
through  which  living  forms  must 
pass  on  the  way  to  ultimate  perfec- 
tion. To  feel  assured  of  this,  basing 
assurance  on  the  fact  that  every 
thing  changes  continually,  while 
nothing  is  ever  lost,  there  is  abso- 
lutely no  proper  cause  for  our  fear 
of  death.  The  Buddhists  say :  '  Be- 
ing born  I  am  dead."  Let  us  re- 
verse this  and  say:  *  Being  dead 
I  am  born/5  That  after-condition 
which  can  contain  within  itself  so 
gentle  a  thing  as  the  'soul'  of  a 

20 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

butterfly,  will  surely  be  unable  to 
prove  hurtful  to  the  dominant  soul 
of  man! 

Whether  we  lean  to  the  purely 
materialistic  or  the  purely  spiritual 
conception  of  things,  undeniable  it 
is  that  there  is  a  force  of  some  kind 
which  dominates  all.  This  force  is 
absolute  and  eternal,  because  it 
is  ultimate.  Our  subconsciousness, 
the  soul,  is  a  spark  of  the  Ultimate 
Force,  and  when  a  being  reaches 
the  degree  of  consciousness  it  may 
be  said  he  has  a  'soul/1  The 
self-consciousness  of  [the  soul  is  the 
consciousness  of  our  very  being 
itself,  and  its  destruction  could 
take  place  only  by  the  annihilation 
of  that  which  is  Imperishable, 
which  is  God,  which  is  unthinkable; 

21 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

for  are  not  we  part  of  the  Eternal? 
And  once  again  let  us  assure  our- 
selves that  our  progress  is  not  along 
material  lines  only.  For  thereby  we 
would  be  judged.  The  spiritual  is 
back  of  every  manifestation  of  intel- 
ligence, and  have  not  we  accom- 
plished more  in  fifty  years  than 
has  heretofore  been  accomplished  in 
all  the  centuries?  To  the  thought- 
ful minded,  the  most  utilitarian 
inventions  are  as  wonder-waking 
as  the  immortal  conceptions  of  the 
artist  or  the  sculptor.  While  we 
are  prone  to  think  that  the  former 
marvels  are  the  distinctive  mani- 
festations of  our  genius,  let  us  not 
forget  that  to  us  must  also  be  ac- 
credited the  broader  and  kindlier 
interpretation  of  the  Book  of  Books, 

22 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

the  warmer  sympathy  and  fellowship 
between  rich  and  poor,  and  ever- 
increasing  leniency  to  the  sinner. 
For  centuries,  spirituality  has  been 
associated  ever  with  individual  con- 
dition; in  our  day,  the  betterment 
of  the  masses  is  a  constant  proof 
of  our  recognition  of,  and  unifica- 
tion with,  the  Divine. 

Knowing  this,  we  of  To-day  need 
have  no  fear  for  To-day.  The  poet 
does  not  fear,  for  it  is  he  who  fore- 
sees all  things.  To  him  the  city's 
roar  is  no  less  prophetic  than  is  the 
wind-song  upon  the  hilltops,  and 
the  constant  yearning  of  humanity 
for  God  is  as  apparent  to  his  eye 
as  is  the  movement  of  the  flower  in 
the  direction  of  the  life-giving  sun. 
He  knows  that  in  all  phenomena  is 

23 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

the  promise  of  life,  not  only  of  life 
for  the  short  period  of  years  ac- 
corded us,  but  life  for  all  time.  He 
is  indeed  a  safe  leader,  for  his  fore- 
castings  have  come  true.  One  by 
one,  like  the  beads  of  a  told  rosary, 
the  poet  has  prophesied  great  things 
to  come;  and  with  no  uncertain 
voice  he  has  assured  us  that  an- 
other existence  is  to  follow  this. 

The  One  remains! 

More  constant  than  the  Pole  Star 
by  which  the  mariner  steers  across 
tempestuous  seas  is  He  at  whose 
bidding  the  waters  surge  and  toss; 
and  it  is  upon  that  constancy  that 
our  faith  is  founded.  Not  indi- 
viduals only,  but  entire  races  slip 
into  the  night,  and  with  them  their 
beliefs  and  their  religions.  Awaiting 

24 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

them  is  ever  the  One  and  His  ulti- 
mate Truth. 

The  innumerable  host  whose  bod- 
ily afflictions  have  prevented  a  keen 
enjoyment  of  the  day's  delight  shall 
pass  on,  and  awaiting  them  is  ever 
the  One  and  His  ultimate  Truth. 

Those  upon  whom  Sorrow  has 
laid  pale  hands,  who  walk  with 
Grief  and  in  this  life  are  not  to  be 
comforted,  shall  pass  on,  and  await- 

/ 

ing  them  is  ever  the  One  and  His 
ultimate  Truth. 

And  those  who  through  error  or 
adversity  sinned  and  fell,  they  that 
doubted,  and  even  they  that  dis- 
believed, shall  pass  on,  and  await- 
ing them  is  ever  the  One  and  His 
ultimate  Truth. 

Our  firm  belief  in  the  life  that  is  to 

25 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

be  need  not  prevent  us  from  enjoy- 
ing the  good  things  of  this  which  is. 
Who,  passing  through  a  garden  of 
beautiful  flowers,  even  though  his 
business  lie  beyond  the  Gate,  would 
not  tarry  a  while  and  partake  of  the 
innocent  allurements  around  him? 
And  life  is  such  a  garden,  a  garden 
becoming  more  beautiful  year  by 
year  through  the  ministrations  of 
noble  men  and  women  whose  goal 
is  beyond  the  Gate,  where  waits 
ever  the  One  and  His  ultimate 
Truth. 

And  the  finer  things  of  life,  whose 
enjoyment  prepares  us  for  what  is  to 
follow,  what  are  they?  Let  each 
of  us  do  cheerfully  to-day  whatever 
work  is  given  him  to  do,  endeavoring 
to  live  up  to  the  expectations  of 

26 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

generous-minded  friends.  Let  each 
of  us  cultivate  gentleness,  kindness, 
courtesy,  and  consideration;  then, 
however  limited  the  sphere  in  which 
we  have  our  being,  we  shall  see  the 
world  become  better  for  our  pres- 
ence, and  we  shall  have  an  influence 
for  good  not  only  on  the  individual, 
but  on  the  race.  The  moment  we 
cease  to  strive  we  become  self-satis- 
fied and  unserviceable.  High  aims 
will  carry  us  over  difficult  places, 
and  thousands  will  eagerly  follow. 
Let  us  sound  the  true  note,  that  those 
about  us  may  drink  in  the  music  as 
the  thirsting  sands  absorb  the  singing 
sea.  Sincere  and  strong,  as  we 
pay  our  tribute  to  Time  we  shall 
face  unflinchingly  the  future;  we 
shall  become  a  part  of  creation's 

27 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

endless  harmony,  and  shall  be  given 
expression  after  death.  And  seeing 
that  the  material  and  the  spiritual 
are  so  closely  allied,  let  us  endeavor 
to  become  good  by  doing  good. 

Let  us  labor  joyously,  and  let  us 
love  our  fellows;  for  love  is  older 
than  life  itself.  It  brooded  over  the 
creation  of  land  and  water  from 
chaos,  foreseeing  impermanency. 
The  lover  when  first  he  knows  he  is 
beloved,  the  mother  beside  the 
cradle,  the  friend  beside  the  tried 
and  trusted  friend,  all  experience  an 
emotion  akin  to  that  which  is  be- 
stowed upon  the  birth  of  a  world 
or  the  vanishing  of  a  star.  Not 
until  we  love  do  we  become  aware  of 
the  purposes  of  creation,  nor  can 
we  in  any  way  add  to  the  divine 

28 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

harmony.  Love  is  the  light  that  dis- 
pels all  fear  of  the  descent  to  death ; 
it  is  one  of  the  jewels  that  tremble 
eternally  in  the  beneficent  hand  of 
God. 

Let  us  be  brave  in  adversity,  hum- 
ble in  success,  and  true  under  all 
conditions.  Let  us  have  faith  in 
ourselves  and  faith  in  our  fellowmen. 
The  vault  of  heaven  is  sometimes 
clouded;  there  is  no  nature  so  eter- 
nally beautiful  as  the  soul  would 
have  it.  But  behind  all  storm  is 
the  sapphire  serenity,  and  behind 
the  most  perverse  of  moods  the  pre- 
dominant impulses  of  affection  and 
love. 

Seeded  with  stars,  as  the  sphere 
whereon  we  now  find  ourselves  is 
starred  with  flowers,  the  limitless 

29 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

reaches  of  the  heavens  allure  us  on- 
ward and  promise  us  the  ultimate 
Resurrection. 

There  is  no  reason  to  fear,  neither 
is  there  cause  to  doubt.  Into  the 
cool,  dark  bosom  of  the  earth, 
whereto  are  gathered  the  curled 
leaves  whose  trembling  heralded  the 
approach  of  Spring,  whose  stillness 
reminded  us  of  the  quiescent  happi- 
ness of  Summer,  whose  rustling 
foretold  the  stealthy  advance  of 
Autumn,  we  must  descend  ere  long. 
Let  us  go  courageously.  There  our 
dust  shall  be  welcomed  by  all  that 
has  ever  lived,  by  all  that  has  ever 
loved;  but  the  spirit,  the  true  self, 
can  no  more  be  imprisoned  beneath 
the  soil  than  can  the  fragrance 
of  the  violet  or  the  rose.  Those 

30 


THE  PROMISE  OF  LIFE 

fragrances,  along  with  the  souls  of 
us,  shall  continue  in  eternal  ascen- 
sion; and  we  who  have  endeavored 
and  enjoyed,  shall  endeavor  and 
enjoy  forever. 

The  setting  sun,  a  purple  sea; 

A  shaft  of  golden  light 
That  strikes  the  hill  tops,  and,  to  me 

Hints  dawn-burst  after  night. 

Fear  not,  my  Soul,  the  gray  of  death, 

The  still,  uncharted  main; 
The  Light  shall  find  thee,  and  the  breath 

Of  God  be  thine  again. 


31 


. 


In  Preparation 

By  the  same  Author 
The  Kingdom  of  Content 


336040 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


